The Soul of a Nation

Culture, Morality, Law, Education, Faith

Bernard J. Coughlin

Since World War II, there have been many changes in our nation due to shifts in our philosophy of man and moral law. The Soul of a Nation is a series of essays on these critical transformations in our society. This book will be of interest to citizens and scholars who question our society’s political drift in recent years. The Soul of a Nation was written not only for scholars and students, but for their parents and elders as well.

Bernard J. Coughlin, SJ, was dean of the Graduate School of Social Service at St. Louis University for ten years and president of Gonzaga University for twenty-two years. He is Gonzaga University’s first chancellor.

PrefaceI.CultureRoots of the CultureOn MulticulturalismOn High and Low CulturesOn Sophocles and CultureOn Open and Closed MindsOn Freedom and EqualityOn Art and ArtistsWho, Then, Will Teach Them?Move Over, MonkeyDangerous to Your Health!Sometimes Far Less Than AngelsDeath for SaleII.MoralityThe Moral CrisisOn Freedom and TruthThe Moral Anarchy We WantOn “Values Clarification”Or, No Moral Rules At AllWhy Teach Ethics?Sifted Like WheatAn Angel of LightOn Public MoralityOn Luxor and the GodsIII.LawA Gift of GodOn Our First Amendment“We Hold These Truths”What Truths We HoldOn “Intellectual and Moral Illiterates”On Contract and CovenantIf You Live by the SwordOn Laws and Logic“Yes, Abortion Kills Babies, But…”“The Sound of Your Brother’s Blood”IV.EducationThe Melting PotArchitecture of SoulsDo Public Schools Still Serve the Public Good?What’s Wrong with the Schools?Humanities Under AttackRendering God’s Things to CaesarOn Bullhorns and Baseball BatsThe Cultivation of Moral Morons“…It Stinks…”Vouchers, Anyone!On Homework and Restless FeetOn EgalitarianismIt’s a Socialist SystemHurrah for Adele Jones!“On Caring and the Professor’s Job”V.FaithThe Two StandardsOh, I’m NobodyI’m SomebodyOn Flags and Other SymbolsEucharistWho Abides in Love?MaryOn DucklingsThoughts from St. Emilion“I Wish you to Serve us”Follow the ConductorOn Saying “Goodbye” and “Hello”On Autumn…and Then SpringBibliographyIndex

[This] is a book filled with wisdom — and hope; a book not only for scholars and students, but for citizens who want to understand how our deeply wounded culture fell into the condition it is in and how we can . . . restore intellectual and moral standards.— Robert P. George, Visiting Professor, Harvard Law School; McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University

Fr. Coughlin has diagnosed with acuity and courageous honesty the ideas and movements that have adversely affected our culture and our universities over half a century. His wise observations should be heeded by everyone concerned with the authentic renewal of [our] culture.— James Hitchcock, St. Louis University

If . . . a war rages for possession of the mind and heart of our culture, I want Fr. Coughlin regularly stationed, with binoculars, in whatever observation post looms above the action and distraction below. . . . The Soul of a Nation is a gift to the nation we [will] all love. — William Murchison, Creators Syndicate

This is a book that reveals the best of what a lifetime of prayer and reading can grant. [This] book . . . shows what a life dedicated to education can, and should, produce. — Joseph Bottum, contributing editor, The Weekly Standard

The essays particularly explain how American society has shifted culturally and politically since World War II...It would inform and challenge college aged students who are grappling with philosophical, spiritual, political, and ethical questions for the first time.— First Things

The Soul of a Nation

Culture, Morality, Law, Education, Faith

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Summary

Summary

Since World War II, there have been many changes in our nation due to shifts in our philosophy of man and moral law. The Soul of a Nation is a series of essays on these critical transformations in our society. This book will be of interest to citizens and scholars who question our society’s political drift in recent years. The Soul of a Nation was written not only for scholars and students, but for their parents and elders as well.

Bernard J. Coughlin, SJ, was dean of the Graduate School of Social Service at St. Louis University for ten years and president of Gonzaga University for twenty-two years. He is Gonzaga University’s first chancellor.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

PrefaceI.CultureRoots of the CultureOn MulticulturalismOn High and Low CulturesOn Sophocles and CultureOn Open and Closed MindsOn Freedom and EqualityOn Art and ArtistsWho, Then, Will Teach Them?Move Over, MonkeyDangerous to Your Health!Sometimes Far Less Than AngelsDeath for SaleII.MoralityThe Moral CrisisOn Freedom and TruthThe Moral Anarchy We WantOn “Values Clarification”Or, No Moral Rules At AllWhy Teach Ethics?Sifted Like WheatAn Angel of LightOn Public MoralityOn Luxor and the GodsIII.LawA Gift of GodOn Our First Amendment“We Hold These Truths”What Truths We HoldOn “Intellectual and Moral Illiterates”On Contract and CovenantIf You Live by the SwordOn Laws and Logic“Yes, Abortion Kills Babies, But…”“The Sound of Your Brother’s Blood”IV.EducationThe Melting PotArchitecture of SoulsDo Public Schools Still Serve the Public Good?What’s Wrong with the Schools?Humanities Under AttackRendering God’s Things to CaesarOn Bullhorns and Baseball BatsThe Cultivation of Moral Morons“…It Stinks…”Vouchers, Anyone!On Homework and Restless FeetOn EgalitarianismIt’s a Socialist SystemHurrah for Adele Jones!“On Caring and the Professor’s Job”V.FaithThe Two StandardsOh, I’m NobodyI’m SomebodyOn Flags and Other SymbolsEucharistWho Abides in Love?MaryOn DucklingsThoughts from St. Emilion“I Wish you to Serve us”Follow the ConductorOn Saying “Goodbye” and “Hello”On Autumn…and Then SpringBibliographyIndex

Reviews

Reviews

[This] is a book filled with wisdom — and hope; a book not only for scholars and students, but for citizens who want to understand how our deeply wounded culture fell into the condition it is in and how we can . . . restore intellectual and moral standards.— Robert P. George, Visiting Professor, Harvard Law School; McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University

Fr. Coughlin has diagnosed with acuity and courageous honesty the ideas and movements that have adversely affected our culture and our universities over half a century. His wise observations should be heeded by everyone concerned with the authentic renewal of [our] culture.— James Hitchcock, St. Louis University

If . . . a war rages for possession of the mind and heart of our culture, I want Fr. Coughlin regularly stationed, with binoculars, in whatever observation post looms above the action and distraction below. . . . The Soul of a Nation is a gift to the nation we [will] all love. — William Murchison, Creators Syndicate

This is a book that reveals the best of what a lifetime of prayer and reading can grant. [This] book . . . shows what a life dedicated to education can, and should, produce. — Joseph Bottum, contributing editor, The Weekly Standard

The essays particularly explain how American society has shifted culturally and politically since World War II...It would inform and challenge college aged students who are grappling with philosophical, spiritual, political, and ethical questions for the first time.— First Things